Where is the best place to go bowling in and around Atlanta?
YOUR PICKS
300 Atlanta. Photo: Elissa Eubanks / Staff
1) 300 Atlanta
You said, “We hosted my son’s birthday party there, and everyone – adults and kids – had a blast. They sell alcohol and really good food!”
2) Funtime Bowl
4) Stars and Strikes in Dacula
OUR PICKS
Midtown Bowl. Photo courtesy Midtown Bowl.
1) Midtown Bowl
We say, “An old standby that got a welcome renovation without losing its old-school bowling alley charm. And the beers are always frosty.”
3) 300 Atlanta
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89 comments Add your comment
Bud Weiser
July 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
I like that one where they sell beer.
Rebel83
July 20th, 2009
2:27 pm
My vote goes to Brunswick Zone on the corner of Spaulding and Holcomb Bridge Rd in Norcross. During the week, you can bowl for only 99 cents per game. The staff and bartenders are the best and are quick to recognize you after only a few visits.
Michelle
July 20th, 2009
2:28 pm
I prefer any Brunswick bowling center. I particularly like US Play in Kennesaw because they have about 30 lanes and if there is a wait there are plenty of arcade games to play. If anyone’s a fan of Brunswick, be sure to joing their mailing list. About once a week I get coupons for discounted bowling. I’ll never go bowling if I don’t have a coupon because it can get really expensive really quick, but the online coupons are usually for $.99 bowling, and it’s good on Friday’s and Saturday’s too.
Atlanta twin
July 20th, 2009
2:37 pm
300 Atlanta is the best
Toledo Joe
July 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
I like the bowling centers in West Atlanta. I always have a great time there in the late evenings. They have the best ball polishing machines in the city. Lots of spit really helps the shine come out.
Johnny Fontane
July 20th, 2009
3:05 pm
I like a bowl or two in the afternoon.
reservoirDAWG
July 20th, 2009
3:24 pm
Stars and Strikes.
henry county resident
July 20th, 2009
3:26 pm
FunBowl in McDonough is my favorite
B Ray
July 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
US Play Kennesaw. In fact I am having a fundraiser there on August 30th from 1-4 to raise money in honor of my late wife. The proceed will be donated to the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Please come join us. Email me @ bowlingforjee@gmail.com for details.
B Ray
July 20th, 2009
4:02 pm
Sorry the emai is Bowlingforjess@gmail.com
MKDWinLGA
July 20th, 2009
4:45 pm
Spalding Lanes in Norcross.
SuperT
July 20th, 2009
5:16 pm
Red Carpet Lanes on satellite in Gwinnett is really nice, it’s pretty new!
AeroNautica0909
July 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
I concur that FunBowl in McDonough is awesome… so is the bowling alley in Atlantic Station in Midtown.
tmoney
July 20th, 2009
9:40 pm
The Fun Center in Tucker and/or Pinstrikes in Stockbridge
Kaye
July 21st, 2009
7:32 am
The bowling at Jillian’s is always a good time.
Joe
July 21st, 2009
7:38 am
The bowling alley in Atlantic Station is a nightclub masquerading as a bowling alley! What a joke!
The only half-way decent (read: reasonably priced) place to bowl ITP is Funtime Bowl on Buford Hwy.
Tee Tee
July 21st, 2009
8:03 am
Stars and Strikes in Hiram! Bowling, Laser Tag,and Poker players. A whole lot of fun for everyone
Pam
July 21st, 2009
8:12 am
Jillian’s at Discover Mills. Stars and Strikes at the corner of Highway 316 and Winder Highway is great for kids.
Angela
July 21st, 2009
9:06 am
Star and Strikes in Hiram is the best!
Steve
July 21st, 2009
9:31 am
300 on Savoy is the classiest, as long as they don’t have some stupid hip-hop garbage-fest going on. Midtown is convenient – and open 24/7 – but they are usually horrendously overpriced. Generally the alleys in north Fulton seem to have the least riff raff.
Elaine
July 21st, 2009
10:31 am
Pinstripes Stockbridge Ga. Great family fun along with food and drinks. Love it that the Waitress comes to the table. Again, I think this spot has great ambience for a family.
Lambam123
July 21st, 2009
1:16 pm
Brunswick Lanes in Roswell.
Krystal
July 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
My friends and I recently bowled at Red Carpet Lanes and I had a good time. Customer service was good, the music was good, and the food was good!
Bryan
July 22nd, 2009
6:28 am
Kingpins in Athens is the best
Where is the best place to go bowling in and around Atlanta … « bowlingteams
July 22nd, 2009
11:07 am
[...] Link: Where is the best place to go bowling in and around Atlanta … [...]
luke
July 22nd, 2009
1:19 pm
Whats up with the “hip-hop garbage” statement? not cool
Eric
July 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
I recommend the Brunswick lanes in Roswell, that place rocks!!!
Jami
July 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
I’ve lived here two years and have not been bowling.Ten Pin is only for people who don’t mind paying more for the name than the game.
Aunt Squeezie
July 23rd, 2009
7:04 am
AMF in Marietta. My daughter is on 2 leagues. The coaching staff is great and she has come a long way in her bowling. The employees and management are very supportive of the youth league and I am happy to be a part of it.
Jason
July 23rd, 2009
7:10 am
The bowling alley on Robins Air Force base in Warner Robins, GA can’t be beat since it has $1/game bowling for lunch every weekday. However, I have been impressed with the Stars and Stripes bowling alley out on Highway 316 between Lawrenceville and Dacula.
Vern
July 23rd, 2009
7:20 am
Your Bowling Center in Douglasville.
jenny
July 23rd, 2009
7:25 am
Funtime Bowl on Buford Hwy.
jenny
July 23rd, 2009
7:27 am
Enter your comments here
Vince
July 23rd, 2009
7:58 am
Stars and Strikes.
Definitely NOT the Brunswick lanes off Holcomb Bridge on Old Roswell Road. Management only wants your $$ and could care less if the people bowling around you are inconsiderate idiots. I’ve seen fights there start because mgmt wouldn’t step in first. People have had things stolen from them while they’re bowling and mgmt’s response was, “Eh. Sorry. Have a free shoe rental.”
Dano
July 23rd, 2009
8:33 am
The best-kept secret in the Atlanta metro area … CHEROKEE LANES in Canton!!!!!! It’s not an over-priced nightclub with extreme prices – it’s a family-friendly atmosphere with great entertainment on Saturday nights and 25 cents a game on Sunday nights! It’s a professional bowlers’-quality place, so the lanes are REALLY taken care of … but mostly it’s the PEOPLE who work there … much better and nicer and friendlier than the minimum-wage-I’ve-never-bowled teenagers at AMF lanes. (www.cherokeelanes.net).
Nicole Hall
July 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
US Play in Kennesaw. Not only do they have tons of stuff to do but they also have special days where they have $1 bowling games. It’s a great place to go that doesnt leave you bankrupt.
Bowlin!!!
July 23rd, 2009
8:21 pm
If I could afford it on a normal basis 300 or Ten Pin Alley.
Josh
July 23rd, 2009
10:39 pm
300 is the BEST! Don’t like the other REDNECK trash bowling alleys located outside 285. Prefer the more classy style alleys.
Last Cracker in East Point
July 26th, 2009
11:24 am
Back in the day we used to go bowling in our front lawn. Moma would sweep the yard and daddy would put out ten empty whiskey bottles. Us kids would then tie some squirrels to skateboards and wisk them down the lane to an awaiting strike. That was all befoe this hip hop generation ruined it all. I am tired of seeing parachute pants hearing MC Hammer music whenever I do the the lanes now.
Mark
July 26th, 2009
11:29 am
Funtime Bowl on Buford Highway!
Homer
July 26th, 2009
11:33 am
Barney’s Bowl A Rama in Springfield. I got my head caught in the Shin O Ball machine once so be careful.
chris o bomb
July 26th, 2009
12:08 pm
midtown bowl has the best lanes and overall #1
#2 funtime bowl
#3 norcross(believe its brunswick)
the ones up 75 are fun and cheap, but the lanes are horrific.
ebdawg
July 26th, 2009
2:50 pm
I like the Cartersville Bowling Center lanes…. oh wait… it got closed and torn down so that we could have ANOTHER CVS in town… Someone with some $$$ should come to Cartersville and build some lanes… cause, if you built it… we will come!!!
Dave Chappelle
July 26th, 2009
3:00 pm
Hey Johnny, I feel ya, bout do ah bowl right now!!!
JC
July 26th, 2009
3:19 pm
Red Carpet Lanes… YES! Sunday Nights… YES
me
July 26th, 2009
3:36 pm
Wii bowling.
onyx
July 26th, 2009
3:50 pm
cartersville ,come on ebdawg no one in their right mind would build or come to Cootersville,( town is a joke)
The Truth
July 26th, 2009
4:17 pm
I can’t tell you the best place, but I CAN TELL YOU THE WORST. The ATLANTA FUN CENTER – The place has gone to hell in a handbasket. My family and I used to go their every friday and saturday night for years, now you could not pay me to set foot in the place… It’s sad that the staff has simply “run off” all of the clients. I would comment on rotten customer service, but they have NO customer service.
My last time their, my wife and I waited 10 minutes in line, then another 15 minutes waiting to be called to play – BUT their were 7 open lanes – not broken – just not being used. During that 25 minutes, I saw EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE WAITING LIST Leave in frustration. by the way, also during that time, the counter person did not call one name from the waiting list. I still cannot believe it.
Now, I take my family and my $$$$ to Atlanta 300 of 285. Its more expensive, but its worth it.
Do yourself a favor, avoid the fun center. It’s a serious JOKE!!!
James
July 26th, 2009
4:51 pm
Funtime of Buford sets their lanes up better than anyone in the area if you’re a serious bowler. Its not in the best location, but its a really good bowling alley.
Wayz
July 26th, 2009
6:18 pm
wii
Andre
July 26th, 2009
6:43 pm
I love Midtown Bowl and Ten Pin is just too expensive, probably go there for a birthday and that’s it. Lol @ Wayz for saying “Wii.” Jillians is always at the top of my list as well.
L. Harris
July 26th, 2009
7:26 pm
Red Carpet Lanes on Thursdays is the best by far. It puts 300 to shame. Check it out this Thursday night. It’s affordable as well. There much more to do than bowling as well, pool, poker and club rooms.
Eric
July 26th, 2009
7:26 pm
That’s right, Josh. No REDNECKS inside the perimeter. Just cultured worldly bowlers. No wonder people hate Atlanta.
Marsha
July 26th, 2009
7:33 pm
300 Lanes! Service can be sketchy, but if you get the right lane manager, you’re set. We hosted my son’s b-day party there, and everyone–adults and kids–had a blast. They sell alcohol and really good food!
Last Cracker in East Point
July 26th, 2009
8:06 pm
The worst bowling lane in the ATL area is in Douglasville. The lanes are constantly malfunctioning. The staff is clueless about how to properly maintain the lanes. The only people who hand out in the center are shut-ins. Not much action in the Douglasville bowling center.
Wes
July 26th, 2009
8:10 pm
Atlanta fun center is a joke*
Wes
July 26th, 2009
8:11 pm
Atlanta fun center owes me money
Wes2
July 26th, 2009
8:12 pm
Atlanta fun center owes me money…
Keith
July 26th, 2009
8:15 pm
Maybe the person with the bucks will also build a skating rink in Cartersville to replace the one also getting bulldozed for the CVS.
Rabun Dawg
July 26th, 2009
9:51 pm
Come to the Old Mill in Clarkesville 25cents a game on Tuesdays! Yes, a bit of a drive from 285, but the foothills of Northeast Ga. ain’t too bad. A few pretty good places for lunch in the area as well. I’m only 30 minutes away, so I may be spoiled,and retired!
June Smith
July 27th, 2009
12:10 am
love stars and strikes. located Winder Hwy and 316. Took grandkids many times-we all have a blast!
OZZFEST
July 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
“BOWL” at Northeast Plaza on Buford Hwy…..the bowling and beer are cheap, and the women are awesome…if you don’t get shot walking to your car.
Logical Dude
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
I say Red Carpet Lanes in the brand spanking new Paragon development in Duluth. It’s on Satellite near Beaver Ruin, and they have a restaurant and bar right there.
SuperGirl
July 28th, 2009
2:53 pm
Worst: Brunswick Roswell: I agree with some other post Roswell is by far the worst place staff is okay, but manager is not up to par compared to other brunswick centers.
Best: Atlanta 300 for fun only, like having a party and Brunswick Norcross for league bowling and Red Carpet Lanes is new but has a good welcome feel to it.
JP
July 28th, 2009
3:37 pm
Midtown Lanes. Ten Pin Alley is full of snobbery and superficiality. It epitomizes the shallow Atlanta attitude that is increasingly making this so-called city unattractive. On top of that it seems the lanes are non-regulation, not long enough and narrower than standard.
MegaEvolution
July 28th, 2009
3:38 pm
Hey all, I am so glad to see that the AJC took interest in bowling as it seems to be the “silent” past-time! I see lots of great comments and so glad that the center we bowl out (Norcross-Brunswick) of had so many great kudos.. I think that says volumes for the management and staff at that center.
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Benny Blanco
July 28th, 2009
3:40 pm
RED CARPET LANES ON THURSDAY NIGHTS!! IT IS THE NICEST BOWLING ALLEY IN ALL OF ATLANTA! MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT 4500 SATELLITE BLVD/ BEAVER RUIN.
GREAT FACILITY, PUTS 300 AND TINPIN TO SHAME!! 50,000 SQ FT FACILITY! AN ADULT PLAYGROUND!
Jessica
July 28th, 2009
3:50 pm
I like Atlanta 300…very nice but expensive!! If my boyfriend and I are trying to save money, we go to Brunswick in Nocross…99 cent bowling is great!
Thingsthatshine
July 28th, 2009
3:51 pm
Mark it eight, Dude.
Kingpins in Athens is tops. Man, I’m throwing rocks tonight.
Becky
July 28th, 2009
4:10 pm
@last Cracker in East Point..Amen to that..The bowling alley in Douglasville is a joke..It’s dirty, the staff are very rude, the lanes suck and most of the people that go there are jerks..Of course if you think the bowling alley is bad, you should never go to the skating rink across from it..It makes the people at the bolwing alley seem like wonderful, nice, friendly people….
Savannah
July 28th, 2009
6:22 pm
I think the worst managed bowling center is Brunswick Zone Roswell.. The staff is extremely friendly but the manager is a complete money hogging idiot.
Ed Davis
July 29th, 2009
12:37 pm
Check out The Fun House in Dawsonville. Ga. 400 North to State 53!! Open lanes any time plus indoor go-karts and 18 holes of Putt-Putt.
Scott Baker
July 29th, 2009
2:39 pm
I like lawn bowling in my yard
Frugal and fun: cheap date ideas | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
July 30th, 2009
7:02 am
[...] The Best of the Big A has closed nominations for the best place to bowl in metro Atlanta. Midtown Bowl did not crack the readers’ top 5, but it was the readers’ pick for the best bowling alley in Atlanta in Creative Loafing. Last week here commenter ‘E’ suggested Midtown be on the list of Frugal and Fun date ideas for its $11.75 all-inclusive weekday special. Great idea, but we don’t know many people who date Mondays through Thursdays, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., when that applies. So, we continued our hunt. I came across a summer special at Red Carpet Lanes in Duluth. Before 7 p.m. on weekends, games are $1.49 per person. Shoe rentals are $3.95 per person. [...]
Jay99
July 31st, 2009
1:08 am
Red Carpet Lanes in Duluth, they have the best food you will find in a bowling alley! They also have pool, poker, karaoke rooms and a really nice lounge upstairs if you want to party!
Tim
July 31st, 2009
7:59 am
Brunswick zone Norcross is the best. The staff is friendly the place is always clean and the machines run the best out of anywhere that me and my family go to. The mechanical staff is the best!!!!!!!!
Kay
July 31st, 2009
3:36 pm
Without a doubt, Blue Willow Inn, in Social Circle. The first time we went, the hostess gave us the tour then led us to a side table (separate from the other desserts) and said, “and HERE is our Peach Cobbler”. Fried Green Tomatoes and Peach Cobbler–what else could one want?
Quualudes
July 31st, 2009
8:47 pm
Hands down – Brunswick in Norcross. I live close so it is my ‘home’ bowling lane. I swear, every time I stray to another alley, I miss everything about this place. The staff is awesome, the lanes absolutely rock, and you just, well, feel at home when you are there. Red Carpet, Stars and Stripes, Juliannes, even the AMF lanes I’ve been to lately need to take a lesson from these guys. And for those of you watching your cashflow, weekdays are 99 cents a game. And if you sign up for the newsletter, you get a SLEW of coupons to play for cheap on weekends too. Seriously, great fun. Hammer back some beers, throw some balls and have a good time on the cheap.
Billy
July 31st, 2009
9:18 pm
I always bring my family to the Brunswick center in Roswell and have a great time. When we went, games were only $.99, which is awesome with a family of five. We have also done a birthday party for my oldest son, and he had a great time. Staff and management very friendly and polite.
Bowler Mom
August 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
Stars and Strikes in Hiram is the best. Never have to wait for a lane. Cheery clean atmosphere. Brunswick lanes in Austell is the worst. To many leagues, can never get a lane to family bowl.
Rana Cash
August 4th, 2009
12:39 pm
Hey Bowlers,
Atlanta Bargain Hunter here. If you haven’t seen this blog, check it out: Today there’s a coupon for free bowling on National Bowling Day Sept. 5. The week of activities kicks of Aug. 29 with clinics, league sign-ups and other fun. Here’s the link to ajc.com Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog: http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1wpp
Rana
Stud Bowler
August 4th, 2009
8:08 pm
300 Atlanta is just an average bowling house, unless you’re black and a big fan of gangsta rap … then it’s perfect for you!
Matt
August 4th, 2009
11:06 pm
Since when did the Blue Willow Inn in Socical Circle Georgia become a good place to go bowling??
liga latina
August 4th, 2009
11:11 pm
Norcross Brunswick Bowling is the best. the staff is always courteous and nice. they allways are ready to help and the lanes are awesome.
adelante amigos !!!!
Mommyhood
August 5th, 2009
10:14 pm
Stars and Strikes in Dacula is AWESOME!!!! Very clean and by far beats any other bowling alley. We had a blast with the family. The Arcade is awesome. we had a laser tag party there!! http://www.starsandstrikes.com
dude
August 5th, 2009
10:22 pm
http://www.starsandstrikes.com
the one on hwy 316 texas hold e’m games, arcade, laser tag and bowling
Esperanza
August 7th, 2009
3:47 pm
300 is crazy expensive. They add gratuity on everything even bowling games and shoes..
Where’s your favorite bowling hangout? « Georgia Booster Clubs
August 8th, 2009
12:17 pm
[...] writeup on bowling centers with customer comments. Some of these sound like cool places to try. Read it here. « Who’s the best SEC Champ [...]
bat
September 25th, 2009
5:07 pm
The worst is Brunswick zone Roswell, The manager is an idiot and the staff is not willing to lift a finger, they bow down to party and watch out when you book one they wont tell you if your booking on a dollar bowling night they will make you pay the full amount. Also eds pro shop is a joke, he is the rudest person in the world treats you like crap. Oh and if you dont want to wait for a lane on a busy night just slip the front desk some money and you get an automatic lane. Keep an eye if your waiting for that next time.